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Apropos of our discussion earlier this week about trying to figure out why bad things happen to the Jewish People, R. Aviner’s piece, in addition to putting a haklachic gloss to the issue (ona’at devarim), explains, far better than I did, the worthlessness of such endeavors. I particularly liked “Each group’s explanation came from its own biased outlook, with no regard for the idea: ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts and My ways are not your ways’ (Yeshayahu 55:8).”

Against my better judgement, I’m going to wade into this one. According to the VIN article what the SR condemned was:

“During the funerals, the parents eulogized their sons, but I think it would have been preferable if they had done teshuva, if they had said viduy with tears, in the nusach that is used on Yom Kippur, to repent for their decision to live and learn Torah in a place of barbaric murderers.

“Who gave them a heter to live in a place like that, where they were living among known murderers? Is there no place in Israel to live and to learn other than in a place of tremendous danger?”

This isn’t theodicy. This is (in his view) simple cause and effect- It’s analogous to teaching a kid to smoke and then moaning over his loss at a young age from lung cancer.

R Aviner in fact responds to that claim “We must remember that according to a report of the WHO, World Health Organization, 8 out of 100,000 Israeli citizens are murdered each year. That’s compared with 15 out of 100,000 citizens in France, and 25 out of 100,000 Americans. Therefore, it is more dangerous for the Admor of Satmar, may he live a long and good life, Amen!, to live in America than to live in the “Settlements”!”

This has very little to do with the Satmar claim that violating the 3 oaths caused the holocaust.